What were to happen if WCW truly invaded WWF?
Survivor Series ’01 is the culmination of the Invasion angle… or is it?
The Rock and Team WWF defeat Stone Cold and The Alliance. WCW and ECW have been humbled on Vince McMahon’s road show, leaving his own children, Stephanie and Shane, the two who where spear heading the movement against their own father, out in the cold.
Team WWF wins and Vinne Mac is the King of Wrestling... right?
Mr. McMahon proclaims that WCW is finally DEAD and he is the absolute king when it comes to sports entertainment. Really relishing in the fact that he’s the supreme being of professional wrestling.
To finally put an end to WCW and the Big Gold Belt, the Chairman of the Board issues a 4 man tournament at the next pay-per-view, Vengeance, which includes Chris Jericho, Kurt Angle, The Rock and Stone Cold Steve Austin to unify the World and WWE titles.
The top 4 superstars in the sport, going after the the biggest purse in history.
Stone Cold is the WWF champion. The Rock is the WCW champion.
Also note, one of the major stars of the company, Triple H, is out on injury.
But there’s only 1 problem with Vince thinking he’s the supreme ruler of wrestling’s landscape. He’s only 50% owner of his own company. After being beaten and humiliated, Stephanie and Shane McMahon signed over their rights to a sole mystery investor, who happened to be… The Nature Boy Ric Flair.
WOO! WOO! WOO!
The RAW before Vengeance, Jim Ross says one man will be crowned the companies first ever Undisputed Champion. This moment is unprecedented and monumental.
The winner will unify the belts of two of America’s largest promotions of all time.
DECEMBER 3, 2001
In the build up to Vengeance, the Monday night before the big PPV, Vince has been making it a point to reiterate the fact that The Rock will have absolutely NO CHANCE at winning the unified championship.
He doesn’t want Rocky to have the belts, since Rock embarrassed him on an earlier Smackdown by making an ass out of Vince in front of the fans. And nobody makes an ass out of Vince McMahon. So the CEO decides to pile on the obstacles for The Rock. “If you don’t win your match tonight, you have to kiss my ass AND you’ll be exempt from competing in the tournament at Vengeance.” Angle makes his case to Vince not to worry about Jericho or Austin, he can handle them. “Kurt, you’re a real American Hero and a hell of a champion. I would be honored if you won on Sunday and became the very FIRST undisputed WWF Heavyweight champion."
Later in the show, Vince is shown in the back on the phone with The Undertaker. “Taker! Do whatever you have to do and be here before the end of the show. I need you here, tonight. You have to be here, we’ll talk about it in person.”
"Labiagitis? I don't think I've ever head of that ailment before. Is it acute?"
More matches come and go.
Stone Cold comes out to the ring for his spot in the sun. His promo is geared to center around all of Vince’s disdain for The Rock, like The Rock is the only man in the company. Stone Cold is THE champion. “All this talk about The Rock like I’m some kind of transitional champ. AH UH! I’ll stomp a mudhole in any man that wants to step into the ring with me, son.” Austin surely isn’t into playing anything other than the lead.
Flair abruptly sashays out. The Nature Boy gives it up to the Texas Rattlesnake. Flair compliments Austin on being champion, and wishes him all the luck in the world on Sunday, but makes a remark that Austin didn’t even cut the mustard in WCW. “So I wish you luck, Steve, but I don’t think you should carry the same belt I did.”
The current champ and the 16 time champ are planting the seeds.
Austin says something very pro-WWF, gives him the bird and stuns him. Beer swigging, hell raising and JR telling folks to tune in Sunday. Vengeance is gonna be a "slobberknocker”
More matches happen.
We end RAW with Vince and Rock hating each other. The Rock and Rikishi are forced to have a tag team match against Kurt Angle and Vince McMahon. Now before this match got underway, somewhere down the line The Rock made the stipulation that if Vince and Angle lose the match tonight, Vince would have to kiss rikishi's ass. This part actually happened, albeit not in the same manner. But the other stipulation also remains. If The Rock and Rikishi lose, Rock will have no part of Vengeance, and he'll also have to pucker up too.
Now that labiagitis is obtuse.
The Rock wins his match, makes Vince eat Rikishi’s ass, the fans are eating it up. The Rock is headed to Vengeance, but then Mr. McMahon gets his wish.
The Undertaker comes out and fucking lays an ungodly beat down on The Rock. I mean, hammers his fucking ass. Rikishi even gets a Tombstone for his efforts. The Rock is out cold. The Rock is bleeding. JR says, “My GAWD! What has The Undertaker done!?” Vince is grinning from ear to ear. He finally got the Rock back for humiliating him.
You get 3 of these Rocky. And a tombstone.
Our final scene is backstage, where Flair is making a phone call as well. His recipient is a mystery, but he says, “No, it’s gotta be Sunday now. That idiot just gave us the best present we could’ve ever asked for. It’s time.”
Monday Night RAW is officially over.
DECEMBER 9, 2001
Vince McMahon welcomes us to the Sunday experience and says that WWF Vengeance may be his favorite PPV of all time! He announces that The Rock is unable to compete tonight, due to injuries he suffered at the hands of a “rogue” Undertaker. He has no choice but to strip The Rock of the title, give Kurt Angle an automatic first round bye, and Austin would have to wrestle twice to retain his title! (This is where I change things a bit. Instead of Austin/Angle, Rock/Jericho, I’m going to basically job Jericho out for a better story. Sorry Y2J.)
You've never seen the guy happier.
Unfortunately, because of his actions that were “all his own!” Vincent Kennedy McMahon had no choice but to suspend Undertaker for his actions. It was heinous, it was horrid, but what can ya do? The Dead Man will not be at Vengeance tonight. Plus! Ric Flair is mysteriously missing. Everything is going Vince’s way.
He exits the ring area with the best strut we’ve seen Vince execute in awhile. A smile on his face. We now have a vacant World Heavyweight Title, another injured mega-star, the wrestler he wants in a prime spot to capture the gold and he makes Austin go through the ringer. Typical heel McMahon.
We get to our co-main event. Austin and Jericho go the distance, I mean, this match is a barn burner. Austin is fatigued, he’s basically done, but he somehow gets a groggy stunner in on Y2J for the win. Kurt Angle immediately runs out after Austin gets the pinfall, with Vince by his side, and they call for the bell. They're ready to get this next match started. Kurt starts in on Austin, McMahon is nervously smiling, just ready to get this over with. The Olympic Gold Medalist is looking like a wrestling machine.
Austin starts fighting back in typical good guy fashion. Vince is trying some of the mandatory heel shit to fuck Austin over, but the Rattlesnake is still fighting back. He hits Vince with a Stunner. Hits Angle with a Stunner, almost gets a pin in and…
WOOOOO!
After the whole Stone Cold Stunner, and after the whole Rock beatdown, Naitch has something to tell everyone...
The 16 time Heavyweight champ comes out on the ramp. Vince is laid out in the ring unconscious from a Stone Cold Stunner. Angle is lights out in the ring as well. Austin is hanging on the ropes and Flair stands at the top of the ramp and very softly begins, “You know Steve, you’re a hell of a competitor, you really are. You and Rock both, but…He was never OUR champion. You’re not even our champion. You could never be OUR champion. You thought the Invasion was over? No, it just started.”
Austin turns around to none other than the nWo in the ring, who just filed in from the crowd in black hoodies.
The 16 time Heavyweight champ comes out on the ramp. Vince is laid out in the ring unconscious from a Stone Cold Stunner. Angle is lights out in the ring as well. Austin is hanging on the ropes and Flair stands at the top of the ramp and very softly begins, “You know Steve, you’re a hell of a competitor, you really are. You and Rock both, but…He was never OUR champion. You’re not even our champion. You could never be OUR champion. You thought the Invasion was over? No, it just started.”
Austin turns around to none other than the nWo in the ring, who just filed in from the crowd in black hoodies.
Scott Hall, Hollywood Hogan and Kevin Nash give the World Champ a little lesson in respect.
Hogan has the WCW belt and he bashes Austin with it while Nash and Hall hold him. They institute a fucking classic beatdown. Nash and Hall even get some kicks in on Angle, Vince is just waking up from his Stunner and out of the crowd slimes Eric Bischoff into the ring with a microphone. Classic nWo shit going on. Hogan hoists up McMahon and holds him up so Bischoff can address him. “You really thought it was that easy? You really thought you could just kill WCW off like that? We haven’t even started with you, Vince. But I gotta give you credit, you taking out The Rock was just one less thing we had to worry about. This company… This company is OURS.”
nWo maliciously attack everyone in the ring, and spray paint Vince and company with the WCW and nWo insignia. Hogan holds up the WCW belt and WWF belt as he stands over Stone Cold. He throws the WWF belt down on Austin and spray paints it with nWo. (Seeing Hogan holding the two belts, standing over Austin will be a reoccurring image they use to promote the upcoming feud. Hogan holding up the attitude era belt sends shock waves through the sport of professional wrestling. This is a defining moment.)
Hogan ends up stealing the vacant WCW championship, taking it with him as the nWo meet Ric Flair at the ramp, share a hug, give each other high fives and celebrate the coronation of WCW’s rebirth.
Vengeance, ironically titled, ends with Hogan, Hall, Nash, Flair and Bischoff at the top of the ramp, smiling toward a ring full of beaten and battered WWF stars, including Vince McMahon, all freshly tagged with black spray paint.
DECEMBER 10, 2001
The very next night, Monday Night Raw has now become Monday Nitro. Fans hoping to tune in to their regular Monday Night RAW are shocked to see Nitro’s opening, Nitro’s fireworks. They even bring in Tony Schiavone and Heenan to call the action and relegate Jim Ross, the King and the rest of WWF over to Smackdown. “Welcome everyone to the dawn of a new era in professional wrestling. WCW is back!”
"Fans! This is gonna be the most important episode of Monday Nitro in its history."
On Monday Nitro, Flair opens the show, explaining that while Vince is still in the hospital from last night with The Rock, Stone Cold and Kurt Angle, he took it upon himself to seize full control of Monday Night Raw in the other co-owner’s absence. He explains that what Vince did to the legacy of WCW makes Flair sick to his stomach. A company that personified class with champions like Dusty Rhodes and himself, being paraded on WWF TV like a second class promotion. Having a guy like Stone Cold Steve Austin represent a company he was FIRED from. Having a champion like The Rock who never had 1 single WCW match. Forcibly commanding respect for the WCW brand.
Flair then admits that what was done last night was the work of a true mastermind. Orchestrated by none other than the man who he’s admittedly had a tumultuous history with and the man that he called last week on RAW… Eric Bischoff.
He's back, and better than ever.
Bischoff comes out to some major heat. He thanks Flair for his invitation to make history. “I know Ric and I have had a "Rocky" relationship, but when it really mattered most, we’ve always had each other’s back. Vince, you really thought you had WCW beat? You REALLY thought we’d just ride off quietly? No. We’re here on WCW Monday Nitro! While you and 3 of your best WWF men are sitting in a San Diego hospital. And we’ve got our belt back! Ladies and gentlemen, Please welcome the REAL World Heavyweight Champion… Hollywood Hulk Hogan”
Hogan makes his typical way to the ring. Just himself.
Hogan plays the belt like a rockstar.
Bischoff allows time for Hulk to bask in the glow of being in a WWF/WCW arena again.
Eric says, “You see Vince. THIS is WCW. You forgot a few names when you were trashing our product over the last year. You forgot guys like… Randy Savage. Guys like… Sting. Goldberg. Lex Luger. Scott Steiner. Rey Mysterio Jr. … and guys like Bret Hart.” Crowd goes bananas.
“And you forgot about guys like the nWo. Scott Hall, Kevin Nash and your NEW WCW World Heavyweight Champion."
Bischoff hands Hogan the stick. "You know something, brother… it’s good to be back!!” The crowd pops. “It’s good to be back on WCW Monday Nitro!”
"These fans can stick it brother."
Hollywood goes into a diatribe about how bad Vince is as an owner. Showcases his short comings. Brings up the ratings war. Throws Vince around verbally. Starts digging into Stone Cold. Calls him a bald midget, a phony champ. Never was a box office draw, brother.
Flair jumps back on the microphone. “You see Vince, around this time of year (mid-December), WCW had a little Pay-per-view called Starrcade. Well, last night, we made it our Starrcade. We crowned a new WCW champion, and his name is Hollywood Hulk Hogan.”
Really establishing that Hogan, even with the vacant belt, is the new champion. “It’s back where it belongs, baby.” In the ring high fiving and 2 sweeting all over the place, then
Dead Man Walking…
The Undertaker hits the stage. He calls out Flair. “You dumb son of a bitch, do you realize what you’ve done? You may hate Vincent Kennedy McMahon, but he has given me everything I have. That’s why I took out The Rock for him. He’s given me every opportunity I’ve ever had and for that, I owe him my life. I’ll fight for the WWF with every bone in my body." His loyalty runs very deep.
Flair jumps in, “Mark! (because he was Mean Mark in WCW), you’re even dumber than you look right now! You trust an arrogant, ego maniac like Vince McMahon? You my friend are a bonafide loser. Woo Woo!”
Undertaker gets hot and starts coming down to the ring. He’s attacked from behind by Scott Hall and Kevin Nash.
“ALWAYS HAVE BACKUP! WOOO! THIS IS MY SHOW, MARK!” Flair starts slapping The Dead Man while Nash and Hall hold him. “WE RUN THIS PLACE NOW, YOU HEAR!?”
nWo beat the fuck outta Taker. Hogan does some great heel work. Flair gets in some good shots too. “GET HIM OUTTA MY RING. GET HIM OUTTA MY ARENA! WOO!”
As Nash and Hall are taking the almost lifeless body of Undertaker out, Flair continues to talk about the night. “THIS IS THE RETURN OF MONDAY NITRO! Tonight, you’ll only be seeing WCW Superstars in action. Booker T. Diamond Dallas Page. Chris Benoit. You’re all mine now! Welcome Back! Woo! But, I’m not gonna just turn my back on the WWF like Vince did to us. I’m gonna give the WWF at least a chance. ROCKY! Maybe I was wrong about you. Maybe you do have what it takes to be a WCW World Champion. So in the interest of fairness, because I’m nothing like VINCENT, tonight, I’ll give you a world title shot. I’ll give you a chance to win back this title. Tonight on Monday Nitro’s return episode, it will be Hollywood Hulk Hogan defending his championship against The Rock!"
Nitro is back to form with this blockbuster main event.
The crowd goes fucking nuts. This is the Mania 18 match that we got, but it’s being advertised as the brand new WCW Monday Nitro main event. Must see TV.
“Now this is just for tonight only. Rock, if you can hear my voice, you better get to Anaheim. You’ve got a title match tonight.”
Heenan and Schiavone question if The Rock is even healthy to return. Rumor has it he’s not even in the building tonight. He’s not even in Anaheim, CA.
During the night, Flair and Bischoff have run ins with WWF stars and start firing “expendable talent” Bischoff says, “I’m sorry Albert, but we’ve gotta make room on this roster for some big names. I’m sure there’s always room for you on Smackdown.” “I’m very sorry Maven, but we just don’t have room for you on Monday Nitro.”
The main event comes and Hogan enters the building smoking a cigar, nWo in tow. Playing the belt like god damn Jimi Hendrix. It's the most bare, classic incarnation. Hogan in lead, the pied piper. Eric Bischoff close behind. Smiling as he always does and The Outsiders hanging back. Surveying the crowd, slowly lumbering to the ring. Ric Flair is also close behind, ensuring all of WCW's big cats are in the same place at one time.
Hollywood Hogan begins waiting in the ring for The Rock to show up. Taunting that crowd. Hall and Nash have joined Schiavone and Heenan on color. Flair and Bischoff are ringside. Flair grabs the microphone in a cocky fashion. A Flair strut, him knowing full well The Rock is too injured to even be in the arena. He tells The Rock he has a 10-count to come out or else, no shot at the belt. They get to 9 when...
NO CHANCE hits
Vincent Kennedy McMahon walks out on a Monday Nitro set, black eye, Arm in a sling, he’s got a limp. He takes a look around with a fucking disgusted look on his face. Hogan, Hall, Nash, Flair and Bischoff are all in the ring now. Awaiting Vince’s words.
“Bravo, gentlemen. Bravo. You really pulled one over on me. You hit me where it hurt the most. I gotta give you credit. It’s something I would’ve done…but the credit stops HERE. GIMME MY DAMN COMPANY BACK!”
He wants his damn company back.
WCW guys just laugh at Vince. Flair gets on the mic.
“What makes you think I’d give you any of this back? We played the game just like you did, but you forgot, I’m the dirtiest player."
VKM quips, “That may be true, but as 50/50 owner, the contract clearly stipulates that you’re not allowed to make decisions without first getting a full agreement, therefore, Hulk… you’re not the WCW champion.”
WCW guys start looking around, confused.
“That’s right, Hulk. You’re NOT the champion. In fact, nobody is. Kind of sums up WCW, a “nobody” as champion.” Vinnie Mac has a little grin on his face while the nWo start looking a little more irritated. “With that said, no The Rock will not be facing you tonight for that title belt."
“Instead, Ric, Since you and me are 50/50, we have to agree on certain things. How about this, at the 2002 Royal Rumble, the winner will not only face the WWF champion at Wrestlemania, but the winner will also be crowned the new WCW World Heavyweight Champion. And that match at Mania, well, it’ll be a unification match. One true champion.”
Flair retorts “That sounds fine and all, but it’s gotta be a little more fair than that, Vince. How about 15 of your guys vs. 15 of our guys. Last man wins the belt AND a shot at the WWF championship.”
Vince “ I can agree to that, Ric. But let’s make it interesting, if a WCW superstar wins, you’ll be in prime position to take my company. A very distinct advantage. Well, what if a WWF star wins? What will my advantage be? What if... If a WWF superstar wins, I get full ownership once again.”
Flair looks happily shocked. A move he undoubtedly anticipated the Chairman to make. The Nature Boy has the biggest smile on his face, “Oh you got it. You don’t know what WOOO you’re getting WOOO yourself into, Vince.”
Vince smiles. “Neither do you.”
With a final verbal stipulation set for the Rumble, Flair and Hogan look confused by McMahon’s outright confidence. This is Monday Nitro after all.
From the crowd, 4 battered superstars emerge. The Undertaker, Stone Cold, Chris Jericho and Kurt Angle all storm the ring and start laying the fucking smackdown on Hall, Nash, Hogan and Flair. Bischoff squirms out of the ring only be chased around by Vince.
Bischoff makes it out. Hogan, Hall, Nash and Flair all retreat to the ramp, where a bevy of WCW guys are waiting.
Nitro goes off the air with Vince and his best 4 standing tall behind him while the nWo nurse their wounds among the rest of the WCW roster. The Rock is still injured.
A photoshop so real, you'd think it actually happened!
In the weeks leading up to the Rumble, WCW operates Monday nights, and WWF has Smackdown on Thursday. There is an occasional pop-in between the two brands, but this gestation period is to establish WCW’s guys on a higher platform, and to also bring in viewers over to the Thursday product. The company as a whole is profiting unbelievably off of this angle.
January 20, 2002
The Royal Rumble finally rears its head around as the single biggest PPV thus far of all time. With so much hanging in the balance, all kinds of crazy shit is about to go down. WWF and WCW split their announce teams up, but Jim Ross and The King will call WWF matches. Tony S. and The Brain will call WCW matches, however, for the Rumble itself, Ross and Brain hook up to call the action.
Now, during the build up, each side has been talking to The Rock. Flair tells the Rock that Vince was out to get him. He should understand that. He stripped him of the belt. He should join Hulk and the WCW/nWo guys. It’s a match made in Heaven. He's got that WCW look.
Vince has been sending The Rock lavish gifts, visits from Trish Stratus, anything and everything to get back into his good graces. Even sending Mick Foley in for some good comedy bits.
If ya smelllll-lah-lah-LAOW what the WWF is cookin'
Vince finally wins the Rock back to WWF’s side by giving him a title match against Austin at the Royal Rumble. The Rock agrees to be team WWF once again. “Vince builds this up as “a culmination of everything WWF. The Rock vs. Stone Cold Steve Austin. The most WWF style main event imaginable.”
The World Wrestling Federation title match is before the Rumble match. It goes the distance as a showcase of the talent WWF has, but is sullied by the surprise return and interference of Goldberg, who spears The Rock out of his fucking shoes. That was WCW paying The Rock back for not joining them in the brand war. The match is ruled a DQ. Austin retains his belt and will await the winner of the rumble at the grand daddy of them all.
We get a mania match out of the same program WWE tried to do a few years later. Bigger build + Better timing = Box Office Gold.
The guest list for the Rumble itself is a fucking mystery. No one knows who is in this thing, but on the NITRO before the rumble, #1 and #2 are announced. WWF gets odds, WCW gets evens.
This is gonna be a shock fest with names coming back, but this is how we introduce all these fucking guys to the fold without doing a unique plot turn or twist for every single returning star. Plus some guys have already showed up on Monday Nitro. So it helps soften the shock value.
We start with Chris Jericho and Rey Mysterio Jr.
This is how we start the biggest Rumble in history.
#1 - Chris Jericho
#2 - Rey Mysterio Jr.
#3 - Edge
#4 - The Giant - He got bought out by Bischoff. He’s WCW now.
#5 - Kane
#6 - Eddie Guerrero - Also bought out. WCW
#7 - Rob Van Dam
#8 - Scott Hall
#9 - Matt Hardy
#10 - Diamond Dallas Page
That’s our first 10.
The Giant and Kane go at it. Ross mentions how demonic Kane is in the rumble, but Show and Kane end up eliminating each other and fight all the way to the back. Our monsters are out of the way, and in a very big way. A hardcore street fight ensues.
They've got some serious beef.
Eddie and RVD go at it pretty hot and heavy. Jericho and Mysterio are still battling. Scott Hall takes on Edge while Matt Hardy and DDP go at it.
DDP eliminates Hardy with ease and Hall and Dallas team up on Edge. Dallas makes it a point to target Edge. You can hear him saying, “You think you’re a rockstar, kid?” Dallas almost eliminates Edge several times. He even throws Edge out but catches him by his hair, making him dangle while laughing, only to pull him back in the ring to inflict more pain. Dallas has taken a keen liking to beating the fuck out of the rated R superstar.
#11 Rikishi
Rikishi enters and starts clearing house. Tosses out Eddie. Almost tosses out Rey Rey. Gets into it with Hall.
Jericho / Mysterio / Edge / RVD / Hall / DDP / Rikishi
all remain.
#12 Rick Steiner
#13 Jeff Hardy
#14 Booker T
#15 Christian
#16 Chris Benoit - Bought out.
#17 Big Boss Man
#18 Kevin Nash.
When Nash gets to the ring, that’s when hell breaks loose.
Jericho finally eliminates Rey Rey, but Nash boots out Edge, Rikishi, Jeff Hardy, Christian.
#19 The Undertaker.
Taker hits the ring like a fucking bat outta hell. Mother fuckers start flying. It’s a god damn donnybrook. WCW guys are going out. WWF guys are going out. Then all of a sudden, we’re down to 3.
Hall, Nash and Undertaker.
Undertaker starts getting hammered in the corner by The Outsiders. Heenan says "he better get used to this pounding! The next guy up is WCW".
#20 Lex Luger.
Luger returns to the Royal Rumble with a very big chip on his shoulder. He fucking attacks Undertaker and helps Hall and Nash try to eliminate him. Undertaker is trying to fight back, but the Wolfpac is just too much. Clubbing him to the mat.
The Outsiders are typically clowning. Luger gets in a few "2 sweets" until #21 hits the stage.
#21 Shawn Michaels
HBK makes his grand return only 7 months before he actually came back. Jim Ross is skeptical of HBK. He’s skeptical of his initial injury and he’s skeptical since Hall and Nash are in the ring. But contrary to popular belief, HBK goes after The Outsiders like a rabid pitbull. He views this war as something personal and evaluates his former friends as traitors and back stabbers.
HBK knocking Scott Hall's head off. It's actually HHH, but let's pretend.
He even super kicks Luger right the fuck out of the ring. Bye Bitch.
HBK helps Undertaker up and the two start laying the smackdown on The Outsiders. The two true WWF men vs the two defectors and the catalyst for the Monday Night Wars.
#22 Scott Steiner
Scott Steiner makes his way to the ring only to brutally assault HBK. WCW has the numbers game back. 3 on 2. And they're taking full advantage of that.
#23 Goldust
Goldust makes his way to the ring and is quickly ousted by Steiner. More of a beatdown comes to HBK and Taker. The two getting hammered in the ring. "Seems WCW doesn't just wanna beat WWF, they wanna kick our ass" says Ross.
#24 Hollywood Hulk Hogan
Hogan takes his time getting down to the ring. He’s accompanied by Bischoff and Flair. Playing air guitar. Typical heel Hogan shit.
And everyone thought Hogan would be #30. It ain't rigged!
The Hulkster makes his way to the announce table first. He tells Ross that he’s never had the pleasure of calling any of his big matches. Well it’s time for that to change. "The Weasel knows what I'm talking about, brother." Check this out brother. As Hogan begins to take off his intricate entrance attire that includes feather boas, bandanas, ripped shirts and cross necklaces, Bobby Heenan starts building Hogan up like God. “THIS MAN SLAMMED ANDRE THE GIANT! THIS MAN HAS WON 2 ROYAL RUMBLES! THIS MAN CHANGED THE FACE OF PROFESSIONAL WRESTLING NOT ONCE, BUT TWICE!”
Hogan enters the ring and joins Hall, Nash and Steiner by getting a few cheap shots in on The Undertaker and HBK who are very much out cold.
#25 Kurt Angle
Here comes the American Hero. He storms the ring and goes after Hulk. Nash and Hall are immediately there to take him down. Hogan retreats like an injured puppy. While Steiner continues to stomp on The Undertaker.
We’re down to Angle / Hall / Nash / HBK / Undertaker / Steiner / Hogan
Hall Nash are working on Angle, Steiner and Hogan are hammering on Undertaker. Hogan tells Steiner to get the Heartbreak Kid and toss him out. Big Poppa Pump obliges.
Michaels works himself back up and manages to eliminate the genetic freak. Hogan is shocked. HBK gets the crowd pumping while he sucks in air for his inevitable lunge at the Immortal one when...
He may be a good guy, but he's WCW's good guy.
#26 Sting
Sting makes his WWF debut by sizing up a man who has been called “The Showstopper.” “The Icon”? There’s only one real Icon.
Sting and Shawn start knocking each other’s heads off.
Kurt Angle feels the juice too and starts fighting back somehow against The Outsiders and The Undertaker is now back up and in the fight as well. He's got Hulk by the hair. WWF is starting to make a comeback. It's bedlam for 2 minutes.
#27 Mr. Perfect
Curt Hennig rushes to the ring in what is initially support for the WWF. “He’s a WWF guy”, says Good Ol’ JR. But as soon as he enters the ring, he turns his back on WWF and helps Hogan beat up The Undertaker some more. Hogan is doing the ear check to the crowd. Really hamming up the heel work and Hennig is back with the nWo.
Angle ends up eliminating Mr. Perfect and Scott Hall in a wild spot. Scott Hall had been the longest tenured man in the Rumble up until that point. Hennig is livid.
“WHAT’S NEXT, MY GAWD!?” Ross says. The wildest Royal Rumble in company history.
And it’s about to get even crazier.
Remaining Stars: Nash / HBK / Sting / Angle / Hogan / Undertaker
Kevin Nash and Taker are going at it. Sting and HBK are going at it. Angle and Hogan are going at it
Before #28 comes out, Angle hits Hogan with the Angle Slam and Hulk rolls out of the ring, under the ropes. Angle is fired up, flings his singlet straps down, the countdown is on the clock, here comes #28.
The man with, what some would argue , the biggest chip on his shoulder has entered the Royal Rumble match.
#28 Bret The Hitman Hart
The arena is in fucking SHOCK. “We thought his injury ended his career!?” “I guess a hatred for Vince McMahon will cure anything.” says Heenan.
Hart has his intent eyes locked on Shawn Michaels. The last time these two even saw each other was Montreal of ’97. But Kurt Angle doesn’t care about the screw job. Kurt Angle wants that fucking World Heavyweight Championship and a shot at the WWF title at Mania.
Angle is salivating. Licking his chops. Hart hits the ring and the two just go at it. It’s no wrestling match, it’s just a fight.
“Kurt Angle is making it hard for Bret to get to HBK” is the story Ross tells. "Looks like Michaels is busy." says Brain.
HBK and Sting work their way onto the apron where it’s a dangle fest. Sting seems to have HBK bested, but Michaels is like an octopus in the Royal Rumble.
The Hitman breaks away from his fight with Angle by using an eye gouge, just in time to knock both Sting and HBK, who are still on the apron, out of the match which vindicates Bret, only for a moment. As Bret looks at HBK laying on the floor, Angle eliminates him from behind.
Hart is beside himself. As he topples to the ground near Shawn Michaels, he realizes there’s no use in beating up a lifeless body. There’s no real justice in that, so he focuses all his ill will towards the man who just ended his shot at getting back at Vince. His one real solution to stick it to McMaahon. He wants a god damned piece of Kurt Angle. Kurt has officially gotten under the Hitman's skin.
When you end a man's chance at redemption, you draw his ire.
We’re down to 4.
Kevin Nash / The Undertaker / Hulk Hogan / Kurt Angle.
Angle starts helping The Undertaker get Nash off of him while Hogan is on the outside with Naitch and Bischoff just burning the clock. Still reeling from that powerful Angle Slam.
#29 HHH
The return of The Game. Another huge roar from the crowd. “My GAWD we’ve seen it all tonight. MY GAWD!” Triple H rushes out and goes after the old boys club. He attacks Hogan, Flair and even Bischoff. He knocks Flair on his ass, pushes Bischoff aside and grabs Hogan and tosses him back in the ring.
HHH goes ape shit on Hogan. The capacity crowd is fired up. He’s hitting him with flying knees, pummeling him with sharp fists.
Angle / HHH / Undertaker / Nash / Hogan remain.
The culmination of Hogan vs. HHH sees Hunter get Hollywood set up for what’s sure to be a devastating Pedigree, but right before execution, #30 comes out.
#30 Macho Man Randy Savage
The final participant in the rumble is a man who made his name in the WWF, but helped carry WCW to juggernaut ratings.
Macho and HHH have some bad blood already brewed via an old rumor and the heat is on.
HHH and Macho go at it. Hogan again rolls out of the ring while Savage and HHH hammer away on each other.
Flair is so hot from HHH attacking him earlier, he’s got a chair. He keeps threatening to enter the ring, but refs stop him before doing so. Hogan, in a daze, walks over to Naitch. Flings his arm around his shoulders and sells his war wounds from the match thus far.
Meanwhile, Angle and Nash have started in to each other, leaving the Undertaker free to, well, see if Ric Flair has as much bite as he does bark. Undertaker hasn’t forgotten the ass whooping Flair ordered.
The Dead Man rolls out of the ring to hunt down Hogan and Flair. He gets into a fist fight with Hogan and Flair NAILS him with the chair. Flair hits him 5 more times while on the ground. Hogan rolls Taker back in the ring and easily dumps him over the top rope.
Flair has effectively fucked The Undertaker again. This is a grudge now.
Hogan / Savage / Angle / HHH / Nash are the final 5.
Kurt manages to get Nash out. Nash, being exhausted, over calculates a big boot, gets his legs caught up over the top rope and Angle simply over ends him out of the ring. Nash is eliminated.
And we’re down to the final 4.
Hulk Hogan. Randy Savage. Triple H. Kurt Angle.
One of these men will be the new WCW champion and face Stone Cold at Wrestlemania.
Out comes Vince McMahon.
He gets into an altercation at ringside with Ric Flair. The cameras are closely locked in on their “private” conversation with refs trying to break up the action. “I thought this was gonna be fair, Flair? I thought we agreed on that? Goldberg! Savage! BRET!!" Flair shrugs his shoulders and from behind, Eric Bischoff administers a heinous low blow to Vinnie Mac.
As that’s happening, and with the referees trying to settle down that commotion between the two owners, Nash re-enters the ring, slips on a pair of brass knucks and KOs Kurt Angle only to slide right back out and act like nothing ever happened. Utter calamity.
He leaves only to see Hogan re-enter the ring and dump Angle over the side then, to smother salt in the wound, does the sideways flex pose. The crowd hates Hogan.
Hulk Hogan has a 14" dick. Terry Bollea doesn't. Remember that.
Hogan / Savage / HHH are left.
Vince is still reeling from the low blow, he’s on his knees by the commentary table. But he can see the ring through his agonized face.
What he witnesses next is this:
Hogan and Savage, the former top 2 guys that built the WWF, hammer and eliminate HHH after a series of finishers. They dump HHH out right by Vince. Who is now almost in tears.
Then Savage looks at Hogan, shakes his hand and eliminates himself. A Royal Rumble tradition now by the Macho Man.
The Winner of the 2002 royal rumble and NEW WCW World Heavyweight Champion, is Hollywood Hulk Hogan.
He will get a shot at the WWF title against Steve Austin. While Hogan, Savage, Nash, Flair and Bischoff start celebrating in the ring…
Oh, Vince can't be too pleased about this.
GLASS SHATTERS
Stone Cold Steve Austin hits the curtain like a mother fucking shark. He fucks everybody up. Stunner for Nash. Stunner for Savage. Stunner for Flair. Stomps a mudhole in Hogan but… Bischoff manages to get Hulk out of trouble. No Stunner for him. He won’t take that until Mania.
The Royal Rumble ends with Vince sulking, even crying by his son in law HHH. Flair, Nash and Savage laid out in the ring. Austin leaning over the ropes with a cold, dead stare and Bischoff with Hogan at the top of the ramp, hoisting the WCW championship.
The Royal Rumble is over and our main event for Wrestlemania 18 is set.
I'm not going to book No Way Out which would be WCW/nWo Souled Out, the PPV in between the Rumble and Mania, but I imagine the main event would see Stone Cold Steve Austin & The Rock vs. Kevin Nash & Scott Hall with Hollywood, Bischoff and Flair looking on. Some certain stipulation on the line that adds to our already massive Wrestlemania 18 card. And here it is...
March 17, 2002
(This card doesn’t feature any divas, oh well, boo hoo. Sunday Night Heat would feature an all diva’s battle royal or something tacky like that. No room on this card for bullshit. The poignancy of this Wrestlemania is that it sets the bar that you MUST be a world class talent to appear on its card. No more filler. All killer. The greatest show on planet earth. The original WM18 card featured 12 matches, we're gonna do one more than that, so it'll run 15 minutes longer.)
MATCH 1
The Giant (c) vs. Kane
Hardcore Championship Match
Escalating from their Royal Rumble run-in, The Giant and Kane open the biggest Mania ever with a match between two huge men. The exchange itself has no turning outcome, it’s just a big time, big man match that kicks off Wrestlemania with some hardcore spots along the way. Can someone say burning table?
Winner: The Giant retains his Hardcore Championship
MATCH 2
Chris Jericho vs. Rey Mysterio Jr.
A memorable WCW Cruiserweight Rivalry renewed via the Royal Rumble. A story of parallel careers. ECW, WCW, WWF. Being the small guy, then becoming a main event level talent. Starting from the very best of the bottom of the roster to initiate this MEGA night. Jericho must play the heel in this role and Rey Mysterio disavows his relationship with the "corrupt" WCW so the WWF can have a powerful new babyface at their disposal going forward.
Winner: Rey Mysterio Jr.
MATCH 3
Edge (c) vs. Diamond Dallas Page
United States Championship Match
During the Royal Rumble, DDP made a statement by brutalizing Edge. In the months following, there’s been nothing but bad blood between the two. Diamond Dallas Page is no longer the face that WCW created, he’s a bitter veteran, angered by WWF’s presence and takes solace in his rock n roll lifestyle. "Who is Edge? The only Edge I know is in U2! You're a pretender, kid." Vanity ensues. He's also got a new stable of Diamond Dolls at his disposal. It's a classic "Old Rocker vs. New Rocker" set up. This also serves as a veteran putting over the younger talent. DDP being a former world champ, this move gives Edge a huge head of steam going beyond Wrestlemania.
Winner: Edge retains his United States Championship
MATCH 4
Rob Van Dam (c) vs. Booker T. vs. Chris Benoit vs. Eddie Guerrero
Fatal 4-Way for the Intercontinental Championship
Eddie Guerrero and Booker T will play the heels in this one. Benoit has since retracted his involvement from WCW and says WWF is where he wants to be. RVD, being an ECW guy, doesn’t really care about brand loyalty. He just wants the belt. Eddie and RVD have had some run-ins since the Rumble. Good matches too. This match is no exception.
Winner: Eddie Guerrero is the New I.C. Champion
MATCH 5
The Outsiders vs. The New Age Outlaws
Will the nWo strike up the band, or will DX make them suck it? It’s pitting two of the most famous stables against each other and it’s anything goes, which turns into an all out brawl. After Wrestlemania, Nash and Hall decide to stay with the company, but Hall gets fired for his notorious alcohol and drug abuse and Kevin Nash stays behind the scenes as a road agent with the likes of Arn Anderson and Sgt. Slaughter. The match itself is similar to the Wrestlemania 31 match between Sting and HHH. It's not a good match, but it's packed with nostalgia with appearances by x-pac, chyna, buff bagwell, konnan and any other B-level player from their histories. It serves to crown the definitive winner in the dream stable wars.
Winner: The Outsiders / nWo
MATCH 6
Steiner Brothers (c) vs. The Dudley Boyz vs. The Hardy Boyz
Tag Team Championship TLC Match
Since the success of the TLC match at Wrestlemania 17, the specialty attraction will be made a fixture. A reoccurring match that’s completely unique to Wrestlemania. No, we won’t have an entire PPV devoted to it like nowadays. It’s only a Wrestlemania match. This will serve as the break up of the Hardy Boyz, the ousting of Steiners as champ and will be a little spotlight for ECW.
Winner: Dudley Boyz crowned New Tag Team Champions
MATCH 7
HHH with Stephanie vs. Macho Man Randy Savage with Ms. Elizabeth
Started from the rumor that Macho Man slept with an underage Stephanie, this grudge match has all the attitude era bite you need going into a mania feud. It’s Steamboat/Savage esque. and it’s Savage’s opportunity to get back in the good graces of the WWF behind the scenes, a company that relishes the fact that he has returned to wrestling television. Macho takes one for the team, and puts over The Game.
Winner: Triple H
MATCH 8
Shawn Michaels vs. Sting
Icon vs. Icon. Mr. WWF vs. Mr. WCW. A showdown of athleticism. Sting still in great physical condition, Shawn Michaels returning to form, as if he never left. Skin the cat, Stinger splash, etc. This match could end up stealing the show, but the finish is what surprises most.
Winner: Sting
MATCH 9
Kurt Angle vs. Bret Hart
"I Quit" Submisison Match
Mr. Perfect is Special Guest Referee
American Hero vs. Canadian Hero. Bret is still seething from the Royal Rumble. The Olympic Gold Medalist and The Excellence of Execution truly give the match of the night. No ifs, ands or buts. This is the 5 star match of the evening. Submission after submission, hold after hold, move after move. It ends with zero animosity as both men genuinely earn each other’s respect. Hands are shook. Angle is humbled. Hugs are given. The Canadian crowd is on the verge of rioting. Canada’s favorite sun is finally right back where he belongs.
Winner: Bret The Hitman Hart
MATCH 10
The Undertaker vs. The Nature Boy Ric Flair
Career vs. Career Match
The Undertaker is willing to put his career on the line for Vince McMahon at Wrestlemania against arguably the greatest of all time, who is also putting his prestigious career on the line. I know this eliminates HBK’s retirement match with Naitch, but if done right, this will be the only way Ric Flair could ever go out. In a well built program against the WWF's premiere entity at Wrestlemania. And this helps usher in the true start to the recognition of Undertaker’s Streak. A definitive win over perhaps the all time best wrestler to ever grace the squared circle.
Winner: The Undertaker
MATCH 11
The Rock vs. Goldberg
#1 Contender's Match
Since The Rock is undoubtedly WWF’s #2 star and Goldberg is more than likely WCW’s #2 star, this match has to be here on the card. Stemming from Goldberg’s shocking return and interference at the Royal Rumble. The Rock sets his sights on the man who for the longest time was unbeatable. It’s a power house of a match. Surprising most people who thought it’d be a typical snooze fest. Goldberg will leave the company after this match though, citing creative differences. Making his stint with the company even shorter than his actual real time tenure.
Winner: The Rock is the #1 Contender.
MATCH 12
Vince McMahon vs. Eric Bischoff - Street Fight
100% Control of everything hangs in the balance.
Given the gravity of the match, it has to go on second to last. During the build up, Ric Flair relinquishes his 50/50 ownership to Eric Bischoff, for a hefty price. Bischoff wanted the power, the credit for eliminating WWF. This match is for all the marbles and has a special run in by Lex Luger for WCW. The Total Package's portrayal during his time in WWF was nothing but bad and he blamed Vince for all those wasted years. The body building, the Lex Express, being a wannabe Hulk Hogan. Lex has real issues here. To counter balance that, Mick Foley runs in too. It’s no secret that he hates Eric Bischoff for his early involvement with WCW and the irony of it all is an out of shape guy with sweatpants (the average viewer) saves Vince from Eric Bischoff and the prototypical American Professional Wrestler, i.e. Lex Luger.
Winner: Vince McMahon
With Vince as the dominant figure head once again, he adds a final stipulation to the main event: No Outside Interference will be allowed. Anyone who interferes will never have a job in professional wrestling ever again.
Match 13
Stone Cold Steve Austin vs. Hollywood Hulk Hogan
Champion vs. Champion Title Unification Match
Pretty cut and dry with this one. The two biggest draws of all time squaring off for the unification of their respective company's gold. Outside interference is banned and it’s just a classic one-on-one match. It goes the same way the original Rock/Hogan went, but with all of Austin’s signature spots. Only this time, the grudge is so strong, Hogan doesn’t shake hands after the match, he hangs his head, ashamed, and exits the arena as confetti flies and cheers fill up the place for The Texas Rattlesnake. Hogan will remain off TV until Summerslam, where he reemerges as the Red and Yellow Hulkster. Do the job, brother. It's best for business.
Winner: Stone Cold Steve Austin
With this conclusion, Vince McMahon regains 100% control of his company, he offers contracts to any WCW talent who want to work for him, but it would be under his terms.
Nitro is abolished. It’s back to good ol’ Monday Night RAW. Eric Bischoff is ousted and Ric Flair is forced into retirement at the hands of The Undertaker.
The WWF and WCW titles are unified, but they don't stay that way for long. The Rock vs. Austin would headline Summerslam 2002 and Rocky gets his World Heavyweight Championship back. After that, the Brahma Bull focuses his attention on the man that originally got that belt taken away from him, The Undertaker. Never forgetting the vicious beatdown he received, The Rock would work a program with The Dead Man that culminates at Wrestlemania 19. Undertaker will remain undefeated.
Bret Hart and The Man Called Sting stay with the WWF. Bret gets a Summerslam match with Shawn Michaels. He gets another match with Kurt Angle. He has a few more dream matches before eventually having his clincher match at Wrestlemania 19 with Stone Cold Steve Austin. It will be the final match of both men's career.
And with those 2 matches added to the already established card, Wrestlemania 19 is just as big a power house as Wrestlemania 18.
As for Sting, he would take Vince McMahon’s place and battle Hulk Hogan at WM19, keeping Vince from fighting in consecutive Wrestlemania’s. Sting would go over on Hogan at 19 to build up for a Wrestlemania 20 match:
Sting (2-0 at mania) vs. The Undertaker (11-0 at the time)
Both undefeated at Mania. Both having HUGE wins in the last two years. Flair/Rock. Michaels/Hogan. It’s the perfect match for the celebration of Wrestlemania’s 20th anniversary and it bolsters The Undertaker's undefeated streak as the "who's who" in professional wrestling. Ric Flair, The Rock, Sting all added to his hit list.
But let’s not stop there. Hulk Hogan has eaten 2 losses at Mania in a row. He sees what’s best for business and Vince offers him a final goodbye. He sets up a match at Wrestlemania 20 to be Hulk’s final go around in ring. Hogan will have his last and final match against Brock Lesnar, eliminating the fucking awful Goldber/Lesnar match and inserting a book end on Hogan’s in ring career at the spectacle of Wrestlemania.
Well, there you have it. Wrestlemania 18 made bigger and badder, and even trickling a few better programs out into future manias.